Washington, DC - Representative Edward J. Markey, senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee released the following statement in response to remarks by President Bush that he would veto any attempt to block the operation of major ports in the United States by a company controlled by a foreign government – the United Arab Emirates. 

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee released the following letter to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) requesting him to bring port security legislation to the floor immediately upon our return from the President’s day work period. 

Washington, DC - Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security and long-time proponent of increased security safeguards both on cargo transported on airplanes in the United States and on cargo shipped to U.S. ports from overseas, made the following statement in response to news that the Bush Administration has decided to permit DP World, a port operator owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to purchase a company that currently operates at six United States ports.  The $6.8 billion purchase will result in the UAE government-owned firm performing significant security functions at the ports as a result of its activities at these ports, including ensuring there are security officers at the facility, providing for security training for all facility personnel, and ensuring that there are access controls to the facility under its control.  The sale to the UAE government-owned company has raised public concerns, particularly since two of the 9/11 hijackers were from the UAE and funding for the attacks was routed through UAE banks.